College aims to address retention rates

nancial aid, although she said processes may have changed since she left.

“I come from a foster background, so I didn’t have parents to help me pay,” said Johnson, who received a Questbridge scholarship to attend Grinnell College. “The amount that Grinnell expected me to pay per semester was more than I was making for a full year of work, even when I was clocking more hours than the legal limit on campus.”

Vrinda Varia, assistant chief diversity officer for intercultural student life, and Marc Reed, interim vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for staff equity, wrote in a joint email to the S&B that 2021 campus data indicates that Black students are more likely to experience microaggressions and overt racism, and to not feel safe off campus. In summer 2021, a study produced by Strategic Research and the office of diversity, equity and inclusion also found that racist incidents, racialized experiences and general student life, among others, were contributing to the attrition of Black students.

Charissa Kim, who transferred in 2022 after her first year at the College, said that her experience with the Title IX office ultimately led her to leave. Kim said that she took a medical leave after she was sexually assaulted in fall 2021. When she returned in spring 2022, Kim said that the perpetrator repeatedly broke their no-contact order without any transparent repercussions from the Title IX office. “It was difficult to consider transferring. I loved my friends. I loved my classes. I loved everything about the school,” Kim said. “It was just this one incident, but because it was handled poorly, I ultimately felt that I could no longer deal with it here.”

Bailey Asberry, the Title IX coordinator, wrote in an email to the S&B that the Title IX office is continuously examining its processes and working to be as transparent and consistent as possible while also meeting the required components laid out by federal law.

Kim said that another factor in her decision to transfer was the rapid spread of personal information and misinformation across campus following the incident.

“A small school is great for a number of reasons, but it can also be really damaging when there’s an incident that circulates instantly among students,” Kim said. “Students need to stop using Yik Yak. If you hear about an incident, be quiet about it. The best way to support whoever is dealing with an issue is to let them figure out their own response.” terly “Microsurvey,” which asks students to identify how they are doing, is a good way for the College to know which students to direct the most time and resources to. The Peer Connections Pre-Orientation Program (PCPOP), Stern said, intends to foster belonging for students from historically marginalized backgrounds, including first-generation students, students of color, students with disabilities and LGBTQ+ students.

“A piece of what we’re focused on is the graduation of students, but we also focus on the quality of the experience,” Stern said. “Just because students graduate doesn’t mean they had a great experience.”

According to Johnson and Kim, the reasons to transfer or withdraw from Grinnell extend far beyond academics to include feelings of social isolation, financial and mental health concerns, overtly racist experiences and the College’s location.

Bob’s Underground temporarily closed in the beginning of spring 2023, as part of an agreement with Facilities Management and other leadership groups on campus, according to Alyson Won `25, a member of the student organization Friends of Bob’s. One of the reasons for this was that the water to the space had been shut off due to structural issues with the plumbing of the café. According to Won, this made it difficult to host events like painting the walls, which is an important tradition of Bob’s.

The cafe re-opened with new tables, chairs and a working sink, as well as wheelchair-accessible ramps to the stage, to better accommodate those with mobility issues. Making the space accessible to students is a priority, according to Megan Szalay `25, another member of Friends of Bob’s.

“As it’s a new space to most, we want to bring awareness first and foremost,” Szalay wrote in an email. “We prioritize community involvement, inviting students to participate in the wall art with painting events and encouraging them to share their talents at open mics.”

In addition to planned events,

Bob’s can be reserved using 25Live on a first-come, first-served basis, to host their own events or gatherings. The function of Bob’s as a gathering space fills an important gap in campus spaces, according to Won.

“At one point, I was told that Bob’s was the only non-academic or resource-based student space on campus,” Won wrote in an email. “Our goal with open hours is to really keep Bob’s as a blank canvas, open to students to choose what they do in the space. To me, the most special thing about Bob’s, especially post-renovation, is the fact that people have access to a space that is uniquely creative, open, and historic.”

Dozens of students attended the re-opening event to play games, listen to music and enjoy the space. The event was a success for Friends of Bob’s, and seeing students enjoy the space and talking to attendees was very exciting for Won.

“I’m so proud of my team for coming together and putting on an event of this caliber, to the student musicians who added to the artsy, creative energy that we’ve worked so hard to re-introduce and re-imagine for the space, and to the students who came and showed up for Bob’s,” Won said. “Bob would be proud, and so am I.”